Chapter Eleven - Exit, Stage Right
Unheeding of the bright flash of light that heralded their departure from the train, Harry and Hermione were locked in a kiss that kept them from noticing the change in their surroundings. As they slowly, and very reluctantly, ended the kiss, Harry's eyes widened as he noticed that not only were they not in the transfigured train car on the Hogwarts Express, they were surrounded by billowing white clouds that looked disturbingly, frighteningly familiar.
Looking down, he was relieved to see that they were still dressed in their wedding clothes, but the fact that the place they were bore a very uncanny resemblance to the spot he had appeared after Voldemort had killed him was starting to send him into `Constant Vigilance' mode.
Seeing both of their patronuses standing off to the side, glowing brightly in the ambient light of wherever it was they were standing, Harry was a bit reassured. Turning to his bride, who was looking around with an expression of awe on her face, Harry whispered, "Hermione, I think we're in trouble here. I've been here before and last time it wasn't all that good."
"Harry, when were you on the Etheric?" Seeing the confused look on his face, she nodded. "We're on the Etheric Plane. Where do you think we are?"
"I'm not certain, but the last time I was here, was the night I died." Feeling Hermione tighten her grasp on his hand, he nodded slowly as he looked around. "Since this wasn't the way we planned the wedding, I'm reasonably certain that something's going on here that we didn't account for."
"The Etheric is that space that exists between worlds and existences." Seeing the puzzled look on his face, she nodded. "It binds all of the worlds together, and wraps all of them together in sort of a cosmic whole. Think of it. You died." The pain in her eyes was very real for a moment as she relived that horrible moment. "Because you were still tethered to our world, you ended up here since it's the bridge between our world and the next."
"So if I were to head off that way," he pointed randomly in a direction over the shoulder of their patronuses, "I could end up back at King's Cross with Professor Dumbledore patiently waiting to take my ticket?"
Chuckling, Hermione shook her head. "Most likely not. We might be able to stumble across King's Cross, or somewhere else depending upon whatever symbolism I assign to moving on if my will were to prevail, but our departed Headmaster most likely won't be waiting to give us a choice." Looking over at the pair of patronuses who were watching them intently, she nodded. "I think we can look much closer to home for the reason why we're here."
"I'll warrant that Starlight and Prongs are both smarter than the average patronus, but why are we skipping our wedding reception and standing here?" Looking at the stag and otter, who were both affecting a `who me?' attitude, Harry snickered. "If we're not there on time, Ron's going to jump to some very interesting conclusions as to where we are and what we're doing."
Blushing slightly, Hermione stepped close to him and wrapped her arms around him. "We certainly don't owe anyone anything, but I think we'll be back soon enough so that Ron won't miss a beat up at the castle, right?" Looking over at the pair of patronuses, Hermione stared at them while they both nodded agreeably.
"It's not going to take them all that long to get to Hogsmeade Station, and the carriages are already there." Seeing the look of surprise, Harry nodded. "I sent Dennis there and back to make certain everything was ready. He said the thestrals were looking very bored. Aberforth had his kitchen girl feeding them to keep them occupied until the train arrived so Hagrid could take charge of them again."
"Whether or not the carriages are waiting, we've got two advantages here on the Etheric Plane." Rubbing the back of Harry's hand gently, Hermione smiled as he started to relax. "The first is that time runs differently here."
"Differently?" Looking a bit perplexed, Harry looked down at his watch, and the hands seemed to be moving in their normal progressions. "How so?"
"Remember what you told me, you had a fairly extensive conversation with Albus, but you ended up back in your body just moments after Voldemort tried to kill you." Shaking her head at the look in his eyes, she nodded. "Fine, after he did kill you. It couldn't have taken Narcissa Malfoy more than a handful of seconds to go over to check on you, and you were back by the time she got there. Remember?"
Nodding, Harry shrugged. "Remind me to reset my watch when we get back. What's the second reason, my lovely bride?"
"We can go directly to the Great Hall, thanks to our friends." Nodding to the patronuses, Hermione chuckled as Prongs pawed the ground twice and Starlight mewled in agreement. "A patronus considers the Etheric their own private motorway for getting around; it's how they travel so quickly delivering messages. They duck into the Etheric Plane and then out again back into our world. Saves time but cuts down on their frequent flier miles." Giggling a bit at the look on Harry's face, she kissed him briefly on the cheek and nodded.
"All right, I'll accept that we can be where we need to be, when we need to be there. But why are we here?" Looking from Starlight to Prongs, Harry shook his head. "I trust this is for a good reason, but unless you're just giving us some snog time, there is a reason, right?"
Nodding, Prongs walked up and stared at Hermione for a second, Starlight perched on his back. As Hermione reached out to gently touch the stag on the nose, Starlight launched herself into the air. As Hermione gently caressed the muzzle of the stag, the otter patted Hermione on her waist, where a small pocket was hidden in the wedding gown she wore.
"Are you wanting Luna's trinket, little one?" Seeing the otter nod in satisfaction, Hermione drew out a small dark blue velvet bag from the hidden pocket of her gown. Holding it up, she shrugged at Harry's unspoken question.
"Luna handed it to me when I was getting dressed; it's the `Something Borrowed'." Seeing the blank look on his face, she chuckled, "There's an old tradition for brides that's supposed to bring good luck and happiness after the wedding. `Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue. And a silver sixpence in her shoe.'." Eyes twinkling, Hermione laughed at the expression on Harry's face. "What?"
"That just seems so not you." Shaking his head, Harry smiled at the look on his bride's face. "And exactly what did you `borrow' from Luna?"
"Haven't the foggiest. The girls were making certain I had everything and Luna insisted that this was the very thing I needed." Reaching up to touch her earrings, she smiled. "These belonged to my grandmother; they count as the `something old'."
Touching the cameo that lay around her neck, she nodded. "This was a gift this morning from Mum and Dad, the `something new'."
Hefting the small velvet bag in her hand, she shrugged. "Luna insisted that this would come in handy, but she needed it back after the reception, so it became the `something borrowed'." With that declaration, she smirked.
Seeing that she was stopping for some reason, Harry raised an eyebrow. "And the `something blue'?"
"That, Mr. Potter, you'll see when we finally are alone tonight and I'm out of this twenty-five pounds of silk, lace, and ivory." Seeing the look in his face, she nodded and grinned. "I'm certain you'll be very happy to remove the something blue yourself."
Chuckling, Harry nodded. "I seem to remember seeing some wrapping paper from Nimue's Secret, that wouldn't have anything to do with it?" Seeing the grin on her face, he rolled his eyes. "And to complete the ensemble, there's a sixpence in your shoe?"
"Yes and the bloody thing is coming out sometime between our second and third dance at the reception tonight, thank you very much." Shaking her head, Hermione lifted her left foot from the ground and sighed. "But that brings us back to why we're here."
Looking at the small bag, she wrapped her fingers around it. Feeling the shape of the object within, she shook her head. "Honestly, I really can't tell what it is without looking."
"Well our friends here seem to think we need to use whatever it is, and I don't think they're going to allow us to go home until we do."
Taking that as license to proceed, Hermione opened the small bag and dropped its contents into the palm of her hand. Staring in disbelief, Hermione looked up at Harry in shock, to see him staring at the stone in the palm of her hand. A stone inscribed with a triangle surrounding a circle, bisected by a straight line.
"Harry, is this…?"
"Hermione, how did Luna…?"
Shaking their heads as both of them had spoken at once; they both stared at the innocuous looking stone in her hand. Looking up at each other, they could see the love shining in the eyes of the other.
"Three times?" Looking steadfastly at her husband, Hermione swallowed as she could feel the emotions radiating from the love of her life.
"You don't have to do that, I have everything in life I need." Shaking his head, Harry frowned. "Dumbledore…"
"Dumbledore forgot the bloody thing was part of a Horcrux and cursed himself trying to undo his past. I'm not undoing anything. I'm simply giving a gift to the one man who's given so much. It worked once for you, it will work once for me." Closing her eyes, she turned the stone over three times in her hand.
As she finished, she could hear the sharp intake of breath from Harry. Opening her eyes, she stared in disbelief.
A few feet from them, standing in a group, were five individuals. Three of them she recognized immediately and there was no mistaking the identities of the other two.
"Mum, Dad?" Harry's shocked whisper broke the tableau, and Lily and James Potter, Remus and Tonks Lupin, and Sirius Black all surged forward, very corporeally.
"It's the Etheric. A bridge between our world and the next. They're actually here." Hermione nodded as his parents engulfed Harry in a hug. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she watched as her husband was hugged by his parents for the first time that he could ever remember.
Starting as she felt a touch on her elbow, she turned to face Tonks, hair a bright bubblegum pink and sapphire tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank you so much for loving my son," was all she said before she wrapped Hermione up in a hug and started crying.
Looking at Remus, who was standing there and watching them both, she smiled. "He knows who you are, and he loves both of his fathers equally."
"Hermione, we've been watching and we couldn't be prouder of him, or of you two." Looking over her shoulder, Remus laughed. "Padfoot, it seems as if you were right, all those years ago about these two."
Patting the back of Tonks, who was sniffling into her shoulder, Hermione turned to face a grinning Sirius Black. Shaking her head, she smiled radiantly. "Padfoot, you've been very sorely missed."
"What about us?" Raising her head, Tonks faked indignation. "Didn't you miss us?"
"More than we can say." Harry's voice broke in as he came over with his parents. "But before this goes any further, there's an introduction I desperately want to make."
Reaching out, Harry took Hermione by the hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. Turning he nodded to the pair standing there, waiting. "Hermione, this is James Potter and Lily Evans Potter, my parents. Mum and Dad, this is Hermione Jane, the love of my life."
Nodding, Hermione smiled as she studied the pair across from her. James was taller than Harry, but the resemblance was a bit uncanny, especially since Harry was now older. Lily had a presence that transcended her physical stature. While Hermione could see the superficial physical similarities between this witch and Ginny Weasley, she immediately recognized a kindred spirit. But it was the eyes that drew her in, the same eyes that Harry had, the eyes that had drawn her to him years ago.
Taking charge, Lily Potter smiled at her husband. "James, why don't you four catch Harry up to speed on things, let him know how we've missed him while I speak with Hermione." Seeing the look on her son's face, she smiled as she rose up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "Harry James, we'll talk before you two have to go back, but I'm going to have a discussion with this young witch here."
Chuckling, Hermione leaned over and kissed Harry on the other cheek. "Harry, it'll be fine. This is the only chance your Mum and I are going to have to chat for probably a very long while, so please excuse us and catch up with rest of the Marauders." Seeing the skeptical look on his face, she laughed. "Take the time to think up a good prank for them to pull on Albus and for you to pull on George."
Holding out her hand, she smiled. "Ready, Mrs. Potter?"
Lily grinned and nodded. "If you are, Mrs. Potter." Seeing Harry's head snap around as he heard his bride called `Mrs. Potter' for the first time, she laughed. "Pay attention, Harry. Your days of flying by the seat of your robes are over. There's finally a `Mrs. Potter' around to make certain you toe the mark."
"I think you're giving me a bit too much credit there, Mrs. Potter."
"Hermione Jane, it'll either be `Lily' or `Mum' from here on out. The only person you should have called Mrs. Potter on a regular basis would have been Harry's grandmother, God rest her soul." Smiling at the younger/older witch as they walked away from the others, Lily chuckled. "Especially since I'm stuck at twenty-one for the most part, it wouldn't be seemly for you to do anything but call me by my given name, no?"
"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I'm inclined to agree Lily." Looking a bit shy, Hermione glanced back over her shoulder to where Harry and the others were laughing and talking. "But don't you want to spend this time with your son?"
Making a gesture with her hand, a pair of chairs appeared out of the mists. Seating herself, Lily waited until Hermione took the other seat before answering.
"Hermione, James and I discussed this when this little plan was put together. I love my son desperately, and the fact that I was only in his life for eighteen months tears at me, but the thing I want to do is express my gratitude to you for saving Harry's life." Nodding at the stunned look on her face, she smiled sadly. "For being his life."
"Lily, Harry and I are partners, we always have been. I've been there for him because that's where I wanted to be. Before I realized I loved him, I knew that we were best mates, and we always would be." Shaking her head, Hermione looked down at her hands. "I just hope I can make him happy."
"Hermione, I'm willing to wager anything you'd care to mention that every moment my son has been even remotely happy centers around you. If you weren't part of it, you were there sharing the moment with him." Waiting for Hermione to look up, Lily nodded and took a deep breath.
"Actually I'm horribly jealous." Seeing the look on Hermione's face, she chuckled. "Not of the fact that my son loves you desperately. That makes me happier than I can express. What I'm jealous of is the fact that you're the woman who's mainly responsible for him being the man he's become."
"Nonsense, from what everyone's told me, he's got so much of you in him, along with James." Nodding at the other witch, Hermione smiled reassuringly. "He's definitely your son."
"Thanks to the bloody disaster that my sister and her ogre of a husband made of Harry's childhood, when you met my son he was balanced on a knife edge. He could just as easily ended up as vile and corrupt as Tom Riddle rather than as he did." Shaking her head, Lily smiled reassuringly at Hermione.
"You're the reason he didn't, the reason he became the man who was capable of defeating Tom Riddle, despite the pitiful attempts of my sister to raise him and the equally pitiful way Albus `prepared' him to meet that challenge." Fire flashing in her eyes, Lily nodded approvingly at the matching fire in Hermione's.
"There are so many things I don't understand about all of that." Shaking her head, Hermione glanced over at her husband, who was still talking and laughing with the others. "How could Albus have just blindly accepted that one interpretation of that bloody prophecy?"
"Albus was, and is, incredibly fond of being right. Once he made up his mind on something, it would take force majeure for him to change it; he would work tirelessly to make events turn out as he thought that they should. He claimed it was for the `Greater Good', but it was really because he was Albus Bloody Dumbledore and he was always right." Stopping for a moment, Lily watched as Hermione thought over what she was saying.
"When I was alive, I respected Albus for the most part. There were things that didn't set well, but I accepted what he told us." Shaking her head, Lily sighed.
"Death, however, gave me a quite different perspective on things." Seeing the look on Hermione's face, Lily nodded. "Believe you me; once I was on the other side of the veil, I understood a great many things that had perplexed me while I was living. I gave Albus quite a piece of my mind as soon as he set foot on my side of the veil."
Nodding in satisfaction, Hermione eyed Lily for several seconds, trying to decide how to ask the other question that had troubled her since the end of the war. Looking the other witch in the eye, she nodded. "There's one thing that's bothered me, but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"Oi, I wondered how long it would take you to get around to Severus." Seeing the shocked look on her face, Lily smiled ruefully. "Hermione, you and I are too much alike. If I were you that would be the question I couldn't imagine asking and the one that I couldn't imagine not knowing the answer to."
"Well, yes." Biting her lower lip, Hermione waited for Lily to begin.
"Severus was my friend from before I got my letter. I knew he was different, and he understood why I was different. As soon as my magic began to manifest, Severus would explain things to me, convinced me I wasn't going insane." Smiling sadly Lily nodded at the shocked look on Hermione's face.
"For my first few years at Hogwarts, Severus was my closest friend, despite the fact I was a Gryffindor and he was a Slytherin. Among the many things we had in common was the fact that we both had very little use for one James Potter."
Giggling, Hermione nodded. "Harry let me read the letters he has of yours. I believe the phrase you used was `insufferable toe-rag'?"
"Among others, which I wouldn't have used in a letter home to Mum." Seeing the look on her face, she smiled. "To make a long story short, Severus and I grew apart as time passed. He followed the people in his house into the ranks of being a Death Eater, and I became more the Gryffindor in return, I suppose. I knew Severus fancied me, but I never realized that it had become a love, an obsession really, that would rule his life until I realized exactly who it was that warned Albus about Voldemort's intent to slay me, my husband and child."
"And now?"
Shaking her head, Lily shrugged. "I've forgiven Severus for his part in our deaths; he really did try to make up for telling Voldemort about the prophecy. He spent the rest of his life paying penance for that."
"But?" Smiling knowingly, Hermione watched Harry's mother as she lowered her eyes.
"But, while I can be civil to him, and I am grateful to Severus for the things he did to protect Harry, I'm still troubled by the things he did to Harry over the years."
"Would it help if you thought about it as part of his cover, he needed to dislike Harry to keep Voldemort from realizing he was protecting him?" Genuinely perplexed, Hermione voiced her own rationalizations regarding her mixed feelings for her former professor.
"That still doesn't explain Harry's first year. I fear that Harry was caught in Sev's conflict between his love for me and his hatred of James." Sitting back, Lily stared upward, seeking guidance or answers or … something she knew not.
The two witches continued their conversation, sharing insights and anecdotes about Harry. While Lily was able to delight Hermione with stories from the brief time she had with him, Hermione was able to provide Lily with a very different perspective of the things Harry had lived through.
After about half an hour, James came over with his arm around Harry. Nodding to his wife, he grinned. "Lily, I'm going to steal this lovely young woman from you and let you have a chance to catch up with our son."
"James, behave yourself." Turning to Hermione, Lily's eyes twinkled as she nodded towards her husband. "Pay him no heed; he was always an incorrigible flirt, something I think he picked up from spending a bit too much time with one Sirius Black."
Looking over at the aforementioned Marauder, who was pantomiming pulling a knife from his back, she snorted. "Sirius, don't make me tell these two about your exploits. I know names and places."
Seeing the look of horror on his face, she nodded. "Harry and I are going to sit here and chat, Dora why don't you and these three miscreants catch Hermione up on everything for a few moments." Looking down at the watch on her wrist, she sighed. "We've got time, but not all afternoon."
Standing, Hermione smiled as she gave Harry a kiss on the cheek. Whispering, "Behave" in his ear as she stepped away, she smiled at Dora as they walked a bit away.
"Tonks, Harry and I have tried our best to raise Teddy the way we think you would want." Smiling at the `older' witch, Hermione realized to her disquiet that she was now as old as the auror had been the night of the Final Battle.
"Hermione, both Remus and I are very content with how our son is being raised." Putting a subtle emphasis on the word `our', Tonks nodded at the look in Hermione's eyes. "He's your and Harry's son as much as he's ours. We've kept watch over him, and I'd like to think that the stories you've told him of us have made some small impact on him, but the credit for raising him to be an outstanding young wizard belongs to you and that rascal over there." Nodding towards where Harry and Lily were sitting, Hermione could see that Harry was very animatedly explaining something to his mother, much to her evident amusement.
"I trust both Mrs. Potters are satisfied with each other?" Smiling, James nodded to his daughter-in-law as he watched the expression on her face.
Looking up and flashing him a guilty smile, she nodded. "Sorry about that. Sometimes I just get caught up in watching him." Turning back to the group, she nodded. "Minerva has dropped some hints over the years, but she's an incredible witch." Shaking her head, Hermione blinked away a tear. "I can't imagine what Harry would be like if the two of you had been able to raise him."
"Hermione, that's something we'll never know, but Lily and I are both very aware that a great deal of the credit regarding Harry becoming the man he is belongs to you." Nodding to his friends, James smiled. "Arthur was a good influence, as were these three, but your love and the support that you unfailingly gave him made the difference."
"Something we've all expressed to Albus on numerous occasions over the years." Sirius added, his usually bright eyes clouding a bit at the mention of their former Headmaster. "Albus spent that first year being quite the pariah on our side of the veil." Nodding to Dora, he chuckled.
"I believe your first words to him were, `You contemptible old fool,' or something to that effect." Shaking his head as Tonks' hair cycled from pink to electric blue, he smiled at the indignant look on her face.
"It was no such thing. I clearly remember calling him a `heartless plonker and contemptible old fool'." Shaking her head, Tonks chuckled. "He was so shocked I laid into him first thing he forgot himself and made matters worse."
"He didn't use `The Name That Must Not Be Named', did he?" Laughing at the expression on Tonks' face, she turned to Remus. "What happened next?"
"All I can say is that `Now Nymphadora…' were the last words Albus got out for almost two hours. Dora started with `What in Merlin's name were you thinking hiring Quirrell for the Defense post?' and didn't stop until she was threatening to build a bonfire and roast him over it for leaving Harry with the Durselys."
Shaking his head, Remus kissed his wife gently on the cheek. "I honestly think Albus forget he was dead for a moment, he was so worried. The only thing that got her to stop was the fact the Final Battle was going on at Hogwarts and it was almost sunrise there."
Shaking her head, Hermione nodded at the older witch. "Dora, don't worry, I'll finish the job you and Lily started, someday."
Changing the subject, the five gossiped about what the four had seen over the years from their various perspectives regarding Harry and Hermione's relationship and how many times they had thought the two of them were going to finally figure things out.
Finally, Harry and Lily rejoined them. Hermione took her husband's hand, but was surprised when Lily embraced her. "Take care of my baby boy." Lily whispered in her ear as Hermione returned the hug.
"Until we come to join you, and even then." Hermione answered, tears forming in her eyes.
Turning to face the others, Hermione stepped over to Tonks and embraced her. "I'll tell Teddy his Mum loves him."
Smiling sadly, Tonks nodded. "He knows you love him. Remind him his mother loves him also." Seeing the expression in Hermione's eyes, she nodded. "I'm his mother, and I'll always love him. But you're `Mum', and I'm very thankful that you've been there for him for all these years."
Nodding, Hermione stepped over to where Harry was standing, and put her arms around him. "Are you all right?"
"I couldn't be better." Shaking his head ruefully, he sighed. "You wouldn't believe exactly what this means to me." Stopping and looking over at his mother and then back to his wife, he smirked. "Or maybe you would."
"Mum, I promise I'll remember what you said about dealing with `headstrong, overly curious witches'." Nodding cheekily, Harry smiled as his mother reached out and took both their hands.
"Stop being a prat, Harry. You can tell your wife that I said you were supposed to cherish this young woman and keep reminding her that you love her." Shaking her head, Lily winked at Hermione. "I'd say he's all yours now, dear, but he's been `yours' for quite a while now, so all I'll say is take care of our Harry."
As the group prepared to part ways, Sirius assured the young couple that the five of them were more than capable of finding their way back to where they belong. "And your patronuses will see you back to the wedding reception, you should beat your guests since they have to take the carriages from the train station."
Looking at all of them, Harry nodded. "Thank you all for being here and I'm very grateful for having this chance. I'll treasure these memories, always."
"Hang on to this one, Son." James laughed at the look on his son's face. "Fred sends his best, and a reminder that you're still a partner in the family business, so a bit more mischief on your part would be appreciated."
Putting his hand on the back of Prongs, and seeing that Hermione had Starlight cradled in her arms, Harry nodded, blinking back tears. "It looks as if our ride home is ready to leave." Seeing the look on his mother's face, he nodded. "We'll give the `Something Borrowed' back to Luna as soon as we see her."
"Harry, not until after your bride throws the bouquet, it's bad luck." Shaking her head, Lily smirked at Harry's eyeroll. "It is." Turning her head to Hermione, she wagged a finger at her in a mock scolding fashion. "And that means keeping that bloody sixpence in your shoe until after you do that, young lady. And no carping about blisters, either. You're a witch, for Merlin's sake. I can't believe you've been with my son this long and haven't learned at least a few healing spells."
"Guilty as charged, Ma'am." Seeing the warning flash of fire in the eyes of the redhead, Hermione shrugged. "If I'm `young lady', then you can be `Ma'am', Ma'am."
"Hermione, take care of that rascal, we'll be watching for you two to life your lives and raise all of our grandchildren well." Nodding, Lily snuggled against her husband as the two prepared to leave.
Seeing that they were set to depart, Hermione gave Harry a look for several seconds. When he nodded she smiled and turned back to his mother. "Lily?"
"Yes?" Eyes twinkling, Lily nodded to the pair as she squeezed her husband's hand.
"Could you pass Albus a message for me? It has to do with what we were talking about earlier." Hermione could see Lily's eyes widen a bit, but the red-haired witch nodded carefully.
"I can do that. I had thought you'd want to speak to him in person."
"Oh, I most certainly do, but since `face to face' is going to not be for a while, and I'm uncertain if I should begin this conversation in the Headmistress' office since he's free to walk away before I'm finished, I just want you to pass along this sentiment. Going on with what you told me about your `conversation' with him and what Dora told him, this should tide him over until we meet in person."
Lily closed her eyes for just a second, as she replayed her conversation regarding their departed Headmaster over in her head. She opened her eyes, and a look of amusement came over her features. "I'd be most happy to deliver your message, Hermione. What should I tell Albus?"
Ignoring Harry's attempt to get her attention, Hermione smiled sweetly and nodded. "Just tell him that he should consider the words of a very wise man. `For now we see through a glass, shrouded in mysteries; but eventually we'll see face to face: Now I know in part; but then I will know that which has been hidden as easily as I have been known.'"*
Nodding, Lily thought for a second and then started laughing. Shaking her head, she smiled brilliantly. "I'll be certain to pass the message along. If nothing else, if should keep Albus wishing you good health and good luck for a very long time."
Hermione took Harry's free hand in hers and squeezed. Smiling and nodding, she looked down at the otter resting in the crook of her arm. "Well, I think we have a party to attend."
Both nodded to each other, just as the glow coming from their patronuses intensified. A brief pulse of light, and they were gone.
Shaking her head, Tonks looked at the others. "Did anyone other than Lily understand what she meant by that." Seeing the look on her friend's face, she shrugged. "I've heard that quote before, but I'm not certain what Albus will make of it."
"It's a quote from Scripture, a letter from a man named Paul to a congregation in the city of Corinth, almost two thousand years ago." Seeing the look on their faces, she smiled enigmatically. "She's putting Albus on notice that while she doesn't understand everything he did now, when next they meet she will."
Sirius and Remus both started laughing and shaking their heads. When Lily joined them, both James and Tonks just stared. Finally James shook his head and touched his wife on her arm. "Lily, what's so funny?"
"Sirius and Remus know her; know what she's capable of. She's irate with Albus now. I can't imagine the extent of her anger once she understands everything that he did, that he allowed to happen during Harry's life."
Nodding, Sirius smirked. "Remember what she did to Umbridge? I think Albus is going to find he's rung up a much larger tally than Dolores ever did." Looking over at Remus, he saw the wolfish grin on his friend's face.
"Lils, let me know when you plan on delivering your message to Albus. I want to add something, just in case he fails to see the significance of Hermione's warning."
"And that would be?" Looking at the look in his fellow Marauder's eye, James was beginning to almost feel sorry for Albus.
"Be afraid, be very afraid."
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A/N * The quote is a paraphrase of verse 12, Chapter 13, of Paul's first letter to the Church at Corinth, taken from various translations.
The line, `Be afraid, be very afraid' was used in the 1986 movie `The Fly', but it's unclear if it is original to that work, so I'm giving them credit, just in case.
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